Tennis with a Prosthesis: Grand Slam Advice

The Grand Slam Tennis Tournament is about to enter its second stage at the Roland Garros in Paris. After that, it will proceed to New York City for the US Open. While we watch these great players perform, we can also spend some time playing ourselves–even if we’ve experienced limb loss.

Fortunately, playing tennis with a prosthetic leg is fairly easy to do. Whether you are playing competitively or just hitting the ball around with friends, learn how to stay comfortable while playing and find out the right equipment to use.

Why Tennis?

Tennis is a perfect activity for someone who has experienced limb loss and is trying to become more active. You obviously need to feel comfortable being active in your prosthesis already, but playing tennis will help you handle turns, short sprints, and pivots while allowing you to enjoy yourself at the same time.

You can also play at the speed you choose, whether it’s soft lobs back and forth with a friend or a more competitive speed round. Start slow, get acquainted, and see if this is the sport for you. For those who enjoy it, there are tennis clubs across the country that you can play in, and specialized camps for those looking to play other adaptive tennis players.

Preparing

As we said earlier, a large positive of playing tennis is the ability to choose your own pace. The quality of your equipment will change as you become a more active player. Some ways you can help yourself adjust to being more physically active are frequently exercising your core, discussing the parts of your prosthesis with your specialist, and joining a group to motivate you to continue playing. Practice moving in a controlled environment to get adjusted to your equipment and make sure it fits well for physical activity.

Equipment

Fortunately, we live in a time where technology for limb loss is improving every day. Talk to your prosthetist and let them know what you are trying to accomplish, and they will help you find the right fit for you. There is a wide range of athletic prosthetics available, and it is important to match the one that fits you and your goals the best. If you get a new prosthesis, it is important to wear it in for a bit before using it competitively.

Let BioTech Help!

BioTech specializes in using the best and most up-to-date technology to make your everyday life as simple as possible. This includes hobbies and sports like tennis. We want to make sure you have the most comfortable and quality prosthesis, and we will work with you to make sure you achieve everything you want to accomplish. Contact us for more information.